Newark police searching for teen who escaped from police cruiser with aid of woman

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerCity Police are hunting for a 16-year-old Newark teen who escaped from the back of a police cruiser with the aid of a 26-year-old woman this morning, and then led police on a chase with a 1-year-old in the back of the getaway car, authorities said.

NEWARK — A Newark teen who escaped from the back seat of a police cruiser later took off in an SUV with the year-old child of a woman who helped him flee, authorities said today.

Officers seeking a youth attempting to break into a car parked near Hawthorne Avenue School arrived at the 100 block of Clinton Place shortly before noon today, according to Sgt. Ronald Glover, a city police spokesman. Glover said a 16-year-old was quickly arrested and placed in the back of a Newark Police Department cruiser.

As the officers "investigated the scene further," 26-year-old Newark resident Shaquana Council pulled up in a gray Dodge Durango and opened the door of the cruiser, allowing the 16-year-old to escape, Glover said. The duo, he added, fled in the truck, with Council’s 1-year-old daughter riding in the back seat.

Police found the Durango a short time later and pursued it, according to Glover, but the cruiser chasing the sport utility vehicle crashed into another vehicle. Glover said the teen managed to elude officers and drove off with Council’s daughter in the Durango.

Council was left at the crash scene and arrested in connection with the escape, Glover said. Both a civilian and a Newark officer suffered minor injuries in the accident.

Citing the ongoing investigation, Glover would not say if the teen was handcuffed or how far away the officers were when he escaped. He said the baby was later found unharmed at the home of one of the teen’s relatives.

The teen remains at large, Glover said. He also said the youth’s name is not being released because he is a minor and the relationship between the youth and Council has not been established.